Is A Doubler PLate Required For Installing The Trailer Valet JX Drill Powered Jack TV35FR?

Updated 08/13/2026 | Published 08/07/2026

Question:

I am getting ready to install this jack I purchased from you guys and was wondering if a doubler plate is recommended for my 3x5x3/16inch tongue and if so how thick should it be? My trailer will weigh 6,000 lbs fully loaded.

asked by: Graham

Expert Reply:

Hi Graham!

A 6,000 pound trailer will have 600 to 900 pounds of tongue weight (roughly), so you really shouldn't need to weld on a doubler plate for the Trailer Valet JX Drill Powered Jack - Pipe Mount - 14-1/2" Lift - 1,800 lbs # TV35FR to be able to handle the weight. That said, doing so absolutely wouldn't hurt anything either.

The pipe that gets welded onto your frame measures just about 1/8" thick, so if you do end up welding on more support, I wouldn't go any smaller than that. You can go bigger, of course, but I don't think I would go over 1/2" if I were doing this. Anything more than that is really just overkill.

What kind of trailer are you going to be mounting this on?

expert reply by: Lazer S

Graham

8/11/2026

This is for a custom bumper-pull off-road camper. Empty weight with all appliances, batteries and such should be 4500 lbs, with 60 gallons of fresh water it's 5,000 lbs then food, provisions, and any extra weight from the build that's unaccounted for I gave myself another 1000 lbs for good measure and that's before I get into generous safety margins I've built in. But the jack shouldn't see that much stress especially since it doesn't have a wheel making it only have to handle static loads more than dynamic loads.

Lazer S.

8/11/2026

@Graham Definitely better to over estimate for something like this than to under estimate! And that sounds like a pretty sweet trailer! Where all have you taken it so far? Or is it still in the building stage?

Graham

8/11/2026

@LazerS Still building it but I'm done with the frame, floor plates, tandem Timbren HD axle mounts, lower walls (the back and sides behind the in-set wheels is angled 45° for better clearance going through washes and divots). I'm on the walls which is steel framing, 2" thick side wall insulation (1" thick over any wall/ceiling "studs"), 5" thick floor insulation, 3" thick ceiling insulation. skin will be 20ga stainless steel, welded seams with a laser welder to limit distortion and speed up the welding. Welding is the primary waterproofing system for the walls so I don't have to do much with sealant every few years. It takes a lot longer to build this way but it'll be less maintenance in the end. It's a 13'4" long box, outdoor swing-out kitchen under a 180° awning with a 2x12000btu cooktop meant to be a side burner for a fancy expensive grill, rear entry door, a king bed accessible from the foot of the bed. Bathroom with porcelain gravity toilet and a 20 gal black tank 60 gallons of fresh water. Grey water is handled by portable units in through-floor drains with quick disconnects. Same for the sink in the swing-out kitchen. 1200 watts of solar (the entire roof), 628ah 24v battery for the 24v AC. Victron electronics. Propex 9500btu heater, 6 gal hot water heater. Two large 42" x30" Arctic Tern windows on either side of the bed and a smaller one over a 6' long couch/dog/kid bed. It's designed to be off-grid for 5-6 days for 2 adults and 2 dogs. Not running the AC the whole time but when we or the heat-intolerant dogs need a break. And the whole thing is no wider then my 2nd generation Tundra tow vehicle. It makes the bathroom tight but usable.

Lazer S.

8/12/2026

@Graham Well that sounds like it's going to be freaking awesome! Would love to see a few picture of it when you finish the build, if you are open to it. ^___^ Do you have a maiden voyage picked out for it once you are done?

Roger

8/12/2026

The jack is everything you want it to be. I put it on my fish house and away it went, sure wish I had it sooner but now I'll just have to go twice as much.